Perth Voice Interactive

THE Maylands Hawkers Markets should relocate from The Rise or close because the area is busy enough without it and there’s already a parking shortfall says Bayswater councillor John Rifici.

Cr Rifici stood just two seats from markets founder Catherine Ehrhardt — now a colleague on council — when he made his comments this month.

He says the markets had been set up to activate the area and are now no longer needed: “We could look at alternate places,” he says.

Cr Rifici owns the building occupied by Rifo’s cafe — which he used to run — on nearby Eighth Avenue. He has long been wary of the growth of markets and vans, which he fears compete with established traders who pay high fixed costs to operate.

A parking shortfall at the council-owned The Rise is causing the council some headaches: it’s built to accomodate 1000 people, but there are only 163 parking bays.

This month it resolved to spend $960 so a ranger can direct traffic when more than 300 guests are expected. Structural parking changes are likely to be considered at budget time.

Cr Ehrhardt told the Voice there’s no way the markets are moving.  “We run the event in Maylands because we love this place,” she says.

“We’re all volunteers. We don’t make a profit … and every indication is that the local community loves these markets.”

Volunteer Alison Dalziel often directs people to the best parking spots. She says there has “never not been spaces to send people that wasn’t a short walk away”. She notes the IGA supermarket bays are strictly reserved for shoppers. The Coles car park down the road is good after 6pm, when it closes.

Rancho Sombrero owner Mike Thompson says The Rise is a perfect spot for trade because the area is grassed and is easily seen by passers-by on Guildford Road.

Hundreds attend the 5–9pm markets every Saturday from October to March.

by EMMIE DOWLING